Gender and Toys in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

This paper aims to explore how children construct gender through toys. Using a post-structuralist perspective, we look at how power relations are intertwined in children's play activities that strengthen gender binary through toys. This study was an ethnographic study conducted in Bandung, Indonesia. The findings show that toys used as learning media are often gendered. Both children and teachers reinforce gender stereotypes in selecting toys for boys and girls which preserve gender inequality in early childhood education. Based on the findings, we recommend that educators in early childhood education to be more gender aware to be able to provide equal opportunity for boys and girls to learn skills that are important for the children's development.

Hegemoni Maskulinitas: Konstruksi Gender pada Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini

“…"Ya hanya mengarahkan saja bu". (Wawancara responden 3, 19 Mei 2022) Guru tidak menyadari bahwa wacana gender yang dominan telah mempengaruhi cara guru memilihkan permainan yang dimaikan oleh anak laki-laki dan perempuan, seharusnya guru bersikap netral gender namun karena gender itu sebagai wacana dominan yang diadopsi oleh guru tanpa dia sadari (Ramdaeni et al, 2020).…”

Menggunakan Perspektif Post- Developmentalisme: Bernyanyi Di Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini

“…Namun, beberapa penelitian menemukan adanya keterbatasan akses dan ruang di PAUD yang berpotensi mengecualikan anak laki-laki dan anak perempuan karena jenis kelamin mereka (Macnaughton, 2000;MacNaughton, 2005;Ramdaeni, Adriany, & Yulindrasari, 2020;Warin, & Adriany, 2017;Marsh, 2000). Hal ini juga di tunjukan melalui penelitian yang sudah dilakukan sebelumnya, dimana anak laki-laki dan anak perempuan acapkali memiliki keterbatasan akses dan ruang untuk mengeksplorasi perkembangannya di taman bermain karena kuatnya binary gender dalam kategori maskulin dan feminim yang melanggengkan ketidaksetaraan terjadi di PAUD .…”

New technologies and innovations in marketing: Consumer behaviour of children in relation to the time spent on the internet and to age

“…of the toy industry, and that this has had both positive and negative consequences on children and families. toys and gender issues in early childhood education and care is addressed in the article by Ramdaeni et al (2020), in which they explore the ways in which toys are gendered and how this can affect children's attitudes and behaviour. The author argues that educators and caregivers should be more aware of the ways in which gendered toys can limit children's play and learning opportunities and should work to provide children with a wider variety of toys and play experiences.…”